Serial Dilution Calculator
Calculate final concentration after n serial dilutions with a given dilution factor.
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Enter the initial concentration, the dilution factor (e.g., 10 for a 1:10 dilution), and the number of dilution steps. The calculator computes the final concentration using C = C0 / d^n.
About the Serial Dilution Calculator
Serial dilution is a technique used across chemistry, microbiology, and pharmacology to create a range of concentrations from a single stock solution. By diluting by the same factor at each step, you get a geometric series of concentrations that spans many orders of magnitude.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a serial dilution?
A serial dilution is a stepwise dilution of a substance. Each step dilutes the previous solution by a fixed factor. For example, a 1:10 serial dilution reduces concentration by 10x at each step.
How do I calculate the concentration at step n?
Divide the initial concentration by the dilution factor raised to the power n: C = C0 / d^n. For a 1:10 dilution done 3 times starting at 1 M, the result is 1/10^3 = 0.001 M.
Why are serial dilutions used in microbiology?
Serial dilutions let you reduce bacterial concentrations to countable levels. Starting from millions of cells per mL, a series of 1:10 dilutions produces plates with 30-300 colonies, which is the ideal range for accurate counting.